Sport

HOCKEY: Saunders keeps Marjons at bay

BRIDGWATER made it two wins from two in 2014 with this victory over Plymouth Marjons on Saturday.

Second half goals from Nick Bennett and Ash Woolmington fired Bridgwater to the win, while Pete Saunders made a number of impressive saves to keep the visitors at bay.

With a fast pace to the game Bridgwater made good use of their squad, Nick Bennett came on for his first game of the season and showed some good touches and created some half chances, including one for Andy Taylor but the Marjons’ keeper made a brilliant one-on-one save and the half ended goalless.

Marjons started the second half better, and Bridgwater had to work hard to avoid going 1-0 down. With 20 minutes to go and the game still being played at a quick pace, Marjons found themselves a player down following a poor challenge and Bridgwater took full advantage.

A ball across the D from Willis found its way to Nick Bennett at the back post and his flick was perfectly placed in the top corner.

With 10 minutes to go, Marjons found themselves with a golden chance to equalise after a penalty flick was awarded to the home side – but Saunders again impressed with a superb reaction save.

This acted as a catalyst, with Dyte winning the ball in midfield and finding Willis whose cross found Woolmington at the back post who finished calmly for 2-0.

Taw Valley 5, Bridgwater Ladies 0

IN this top-of-the-table clash Bridgwater travelled to second-placed Taw Valley. The home team quickly showed they were well drilled and moved the ball well.

Bridgwater struggled in the first half to keep them at bay which resulted in two goals by half-time.

A change in formation for Bridgwater kept the opponents out of the middle, forcing them to use the wings. The triangle of Heidi Martin, Lucy Burridge and Charlie Lewis worked to achieve this. However, Taw broke through and got their third, and two more followed in quick succession.

Player of the match was Laura Coles.

Bridgwater are home to Somerset Gryphons this weekend.

Bridgwater Ladies 2nd 3, Taw Valley II 3

BRIDGWATER took a share of the spoils in a six-goal thriller with Taw Valley on Saturday. They started with speed and confidence and were 2-0 up within two minutes.

Megan Weston was cleverly placed to be on the end of a great cross from Kath Briggs – and, again, from the restart, hassled the Taw midfield to force the ball back towards their defending D.

Young Coralie Dosson scored her first senior goal as the Bridgwater players linked classically to pass the ball behind the defence.

As the cold set in, both teams found control and accuracy harder and a Taw forward found herself in a good position to roll the ball past the stranded Bridgwater goalkeeper.

Taw pulled another one back as a corner strike rebounded directly to the Taw attacker whose lift found its way tantalisingly past both defender and goalkeeper. Taw were on the up and sneaked another past the defence and the Taw keeper made some instinctive saves denying Kath Briggs and Hayley Williams.

In the last five minutes, all were soaked through and looking forward to the final whistle when work from Bridgwater’s Clare Evci and Miche Evans forced a goal from a penalty corner.

Teign 2nds 0, Bridgwater Men 3rd 1

BRIDGWATER sneaked a 1-0 win at Teign thanks to a goal from Rich Payne. He beat one defender before reverse hitting the ball into the goal on a wet and miserable afternoon.

With lob passes from Phil Morrish not working, Bridgwater started to concede possession, but the defence of Ian Stradling, Mike Morrish and Phil Morrish held firm.

Man of the match went to joint winners, Brad Palmer, Will Pope and Sam Uminski.

Steve Pigden and Mike Davidge added braces and there were further scores for Fludgate and Cook to complete the rout. After a closely fought first quarter, Bridgwater took control of the game in emphatic fashion – with Liam Durkin also impressing on his debut for the team.

With a 4-0 scoreline at half-time, the second half continued in nthe same fashion as Bridgwater racked up 12 goals.

Bridgwater Men’s 5th 1, OPM 3rd 0

BRIDGWATER scored a late winner to take the points at home to OPM.

Dave Dosson fired home with just 15 seconds left on the clock to seal a dramatic win.

An almost chanceless first half was followed much in the same vain by a quiet second, but with the game looking set for a draw, Dosson shot into an empty net to take all the points.